"
"I knows it, Massa Tom, but he done persisted his se'f inter
it, an' he wouldn't come out when I told him; an' your pa an' Mr.
Jackson ain't home."
"I'll see about this," exclaimed Tom, striding to the large
shed, where the Red Cloud was kept. As he entered it he saw a man
looking over the wonderful craft.
"Did you want to see me?" asked Tom, sharply, for he did not
like strangers prowling around.
"I did, and I apologize for entering here, but I am interested
in airships, and I thought you might want to hire a pilot. I am
in need of employment, and I have had considerable to do with
balloons and aeroplanes, but never with an airship like this,
which combines the two features. Do you wish to hire any one."
"No, I don't!" replied Tom, sharply, for he did not like the
looks of the man.
"I was told that you did," was the rather surprising answer.
"Who told you?"
The man looked all around the shed, before replying, as if
fearful of being overheard. Then, stepping close to Tom, he
whispered:
"Mr. Jenks told me!"
"Mr. Jenks?" Tom could not conceal his astonishment.
"Yes. Mr. Barcoe Jenks. But I did not come here to merely ask
you for employment. I would like to hire out to you, but the real
object of my visit was to say this to you."
The man approached still closer to Tom, and, in a lower voice,
and one that could scarcely be heard, he fairly hissed:
"Don't go with Barcoe Jenks to seek the diamond makers!"
Then, before Tom could put out a hand to detain him, had the
lad so wished, the man turned suddenly, and fairly ran from the
shed.
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